German automaker BMW imported at least 8,000 Mini Cooper vehicles into the United States with electronic components from a banned Chinese supplier, a U.S. Senate report released on Monday said.
A report by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden's staff said BMW imported 8,000 Mini Coopers with parts from a Chinese supplier banned under a 2021 law and that BMW continued to import products with the banned parts until at least April.
BMW Group said in an email it had "taken steps to halt the importation of affected products."
The report found that Bourns Inc, a California-based auto supplier, had sourced components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD).
That Chinese company was added to the UFLPA Entity List in December, which means its products are presumed to be made with forced labor.
Persons:
Ron Wyden's, Wyden
Organizations:
BMW, U.S, Senate, Senate Finance, Coopers, BMW Group, Labor, Customs and Border Protection, Inc, Sichuan Jingweida Technology
Locations:
Leipzig, Germany, United States, China's Xinjiang, China, California, Sichuan